Emulex LP21000 Converged Networking with FCoE in an ESX Environment

Converged Networking with FCoE in an ESX Environment

Server virtualization is one of the key drivers of FCoE deployment. FCoE enabled network convergence

significantly reduces the number of cables, switch ports and adapters as show in Figure 6.

Figure 6: Effects of Convergence using a CNA in a Rack-mount Server running ESX

The following sections provide a detailed description of how to deploy and configure an Emulex LP21000 in

a VMware ESX Server environment.

Although the CNA is a single physical entity, to an operating system the adapter is represented as an HBA

and a NIC (Network Interface Card).This level of transparency to the operating system ensures that the

CNA configuration and management practices are performed in the same manner as current standalone

NIC and HBA devices.

Extending this concept to VMware ESX, the Emulex LP21000 CNA is recognized by ESX as both an HBA

and a NIC. The ESX server in turn provides the networking and storage networking access for the virtual

Administration/VMRC

Server NIC

Virtual Network 1

VMotion

Administration/VMRC

Virt Net 1 Backup

Virt Net 2 Backup

Virt Net 3 Backup

VMotion Backup

Server NIC

Virtual Network 1

Virtual Network 2

Virtual Network 3

VMotion

Virtual Network 2

Virtual Network 3

Separate LAN and SAN

connectivity with NICs and HBAs

Converged Networking with

CNA

Fibre Channel SAN B

Fibre Channel SAN A